We can't have a messy house for Santa!

I have so much blogging to catch up on but I needed to share the craziness going on in our house right now. It's GREAT craziness, don't get me wrong. All 4 of the kids are currently cleaning up the basement, including vacuuming, because they said "It will be embarassing if our house is messy when Santa comes!" Of course I welcome ANY cleaning help I can get....I don't care what the reason is.....although their reason definitely makes me laugh.

A couple years ago, Noah came right out and asked if Santa was real. Jeff and I had discussed when Noah was born that if our children asked us any questions, we would answer them honestly. This has been a very difficult thing to do sometimes especially when the question is about how babies are born, how did the baby get in my tummy, if I get the flu with a baby in my tummy can I throw up the baby, etc etc. Anyway, I disgress. When Noah asked us about Santa he told him the truth. We said that it was just a story based on a true story of a real man named St Nicholas, the "santas" we see at the mall are men dressed up, that the presents come from Mommy & Daddy, and that the reason we celebrate Christmas is because of Jesus' birth. He seemed to understand that and we heard no more about Santa. That was also the year we homeschooled him for kindergarten.

Last year we heard a little bit about Santa but mostly songs they were learning in school. Now this year is a completely different story! Noah is in 2nd grade (public school), Abby is in 1st grade (public school), and Joey is in kindergarten (public school). They all want to put out cookies and milk for Santa and Noah informed me that I couldn't eat them! Joey has been writing notes all day about "Joey loves Santa". Noah told me that he hopes Santa brings him something because he's been really trying to be good. Now they are cleaning so the house can be clean for Santa.

Part of me wants to laugh and thinks it's really cute. But another part of me wishes they weren't so focused on Santa and cared more about Jesus' birthday.

I was just thinking about how desperately they wanted to make sure the basement was clean for Santa but how focused am I on asking God to "clean up my heart" so I'm ready for Christmas. I need to take some time this afternoon to do that so I can get the full meaning of Christmas.

Thankful this Thanksgiving Thursday

Try saying THAT 5 times really fast. Anyway, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! On this Thanksgiving morning, I am reflecting on this past year....all of our ups and downs...and we have SO much to be thankful for.

I am thankful Jeff has a JOB! And especially one that he enjoys.
I am thankful I have a husband I am more in love with today than the day we got married.
I am thankful that our marriage has grown stronger through difficulties rather than fall apart.
I am thankful we have a Christ-centered marriage.
I am thankful we have a warm house to live in when so many people are losing theirs.
I am thankful we have parents who love and care about us.
I am thankful our children have wonderful relationships with their grandparents.
I am thankful I am able to be a stay-at-home-mom.
I am thankful for healthy children.
I am thankful for the excellent teachers our kids have.
I am thankful for the piles of laundry I have to do everyday because it means our house is full!
I am thankful for supportive friends and neighbors who are also friends!
I am thankful I was awake at 5am so I had time to reflect on all of our blessings.

What are YOU thankful for this year?

A blog contest

One of my blogger friends is having a "Fryday Contest" that I'd like to be a part of. She is giving away some photography stuff and a customized blog header! Wouldn't that be awesome?!?! Here's the link to her blog so you can check it out for yourself. May the best blog win --- that would be MINE of course! hahahaha

Actually I encourage all of you reading this to go back and read her blog entries about being told her unborn baby was going to die. By God's grace and amazing power her little boy was healed and born perfectly healthy! What an awesome God we serve.

Morning thankfulness

This picture of the sunrise this morning does NOT do it justice. The colors were so vibrant and splendid....reminding me that our sky is simply God's canvas. It caused me to reflect on what I am thankful for this morning.

I am thankful for my sight -- so I am able to see the sunrise.
I am thankful for children who wake up early -- so I am able to gaze upon the beauty of the sunrise.
I am thankful for a home to shelter us from the cold.
I am thankful for coffee! :)
I am thankful for the messes I constantly clean up because it reminds me that our home and our hearts are full.
I am thankful my family and I are healthy.
I am thankful for my freedom.

What are YOU thankful for this morning?

Out of the mouths of babes

Joey just came upstairs, very excited, with something to tell me.

Joey: "Mom! You know what? I just heard God talk to me and know what He said?"

Me: "You heard God talk to you?"

Joey: "YES! You know what He said?"

Me: "No, Joey. What did He say?"

Joey: "He said when you got to school, I will still be in your heart. And when you go to church I'll still be in your heart. And I love you. Isn't that cool, Mom?"

Me (a bit misty-eyed): "Yes Joey. That is very cool."

We just need faith as a little child. Thank you, Joey, for reminding me of that.

Halloween 2008

This year for Halloween, we skipped going trick or treating around the neighborhood. Instead we just went to church for their annual "Pumpkin Patch". The last couple years, the kids have complained about not being able to do everything they want to do at church because we didn't get there until 6:30 or 7:00pm.

Abby dressed up as Sharpay from High School Musical, Noah was a Clone Trooper, Joey was a Power Ranger, and Eli was a cute little giraffe.

At church they have the Sunday School rooms in the basement decorated as "trick or treating" doors. They also have a cake walk and preschool games set up. Then upstairs is an inflatable jumper, glow room, cookie decorating and crafts, food (hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, cotton candy) and music in the activity center, and games for older kids. Then outside there's a petting zoo and hayride. SOOOO much fun and SOOOO many good memories.

Girls Day Out

Abby and I had a great mother/daughter day today. The entire day was pretty much a surprise. The only she knew is where we were going to eat lunch. I took her to get pedicures together --- her first one ever! The 1st picture was her expression when we walked into the salon. She was shocked! The ladies there did a great job with our toe nails too....very impressive.

Then we had lunch at Olive Garden. We both absolutely LOVE that place. I had to chance to ask her many questions about school and friends and she asked me questions about my days at home too.

Then off to Kids Hair for a hair cut. They surprised her by putting some color streaks in her hair...pink, of course! She looked absolutely adorable. We went across the street to a pet store and fell in love with one of the puppies. Don't worry, Mom, we didn't buy it!!!! But we had lots of fun playing with him and holding him.

Dessert was next. Abby got some cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears on top and I had a frozen chocolate drink. We skipped and hopped back to the van, holding hands and laughing the whole way. A very very enjoyable day with my not-so-little girl.